Section - CAP Smart Takes

04. Trends in Antipsychotic Prescribing in Youth

Published on May 1, 2023 Certification expiration date: May 1, 2026

David R. Rosenberg, M.D.

Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience - Wayne State University School of Medicine

Key Points

Antipsychotic prescriptions for children and adolescents have doubled from 2000–19, with more children and adolescents being treated for extended periods.
Risperidone accounted for most antipsychotic prescriptions in English youth, followed by aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzapine, and haloperidol.
Typical antipsychotics are still being prescribed more often to children and adolescents in deprived areas, despite these medications' significant and potentially lifelong side effects.

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Text version

Hi! David Rosenberg here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. In this CAP—or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry—Smart Take, we will take a deep dive looking at prescribing trends of antipsychotics over 20 years—from January 1, 2000, until December 31, 2019—focusing on an extensive primary care database in England of over 7 million children and adolescents 3–18 years of age. Moreover, this is so critically important as prescriptions of antipsychotics in youth continue to increase dramatically with more children and adolescents being treated and for more extended periods. So, we need a better handle on what this means, the implications, the prescribing trends, and how they change over time. This underscores how important it is to get more and better information on the long-term safety of antipsychotics. So, you are asking, what did they find?

There was a doubling of prescribed antipsychotics from 2000–19 that was partly accounted for by increased new prescriptions

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05. Cost-Effectiveness of Treatments for ADHD and ASD in Youth

Learning Objectives:

Understand that upset stomach and vomiting can be reliable predictors of medication nonadherence in adolescents and young adults with ADHD.
Identify the first-line pharmacologic interventions for treating irritability and emotional dysregulation in patients with ASD.
Understand the current state of best practice treatment algorithms for pediatric bipolar disorder, specifically manic/mixed and depressive episodes.
Identify the most commonly prescribed antipsychotics for children and adolescents, as well as the most common reasons for their use.
Explain the importance of considering cost-effectiveness in treatment decisions for ADHD and ASD in children and adolescents, and describe how it can impact treatment access and outcomes.

Original Release Date: May 1, 2023

Review and Re-release Date: March 1, 2024

Expiration Date: May 1, 2026

Expert: David Rosenberg, M.D.

Medical Editor: Lorena Rodriguez, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

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Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

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Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.